The powerful attacker has insisted that the former Manchester United man's fame has reduced the weight on his shoulders and stressed the midfielder's importance to PSG.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has revealed that he has been happy to live in the shadow of David Beckham since the midfielder joined Paris Saint-Germain.The duo could start together in PSG's Champions League second leg against Barcelona on Wednesday night, in which a win at Camp Nou would see Carlo Ancelotti's side reach the semifinal stage.
The Sweden international voiced his opinion that Beckham's arrival benefits him personally after admitting that it has been very intense since joining Parc des Princes last summer.
"I think it's good for me that Beckham came so he gets more attention than me, so they leave me a little bit alone," Ibrahimovic told CNN. "When I came here everybody said 'don't worry, as a football player you can walk in the city and nobody will disturb you. Because as a football player here it is not like it is in Italy'."
He continued to explain, "But since the day I came here it's been totally stressful. Everybody is chasing me with their scooters. I don't even walk in the streets. When David came he got more of the media attraction, so that's good because he takes care of that and I can play football, focus on football."
The Englishman has received his fair share of criticism since his winter move to the Ligue 1 leader but Ibrahimovic has insisted that Beckham is a key figure for PSG.
"I think he has been very important for us. Because in the situation that we are in now, the club has been changing from a normal club to a top club, and Beckham gives you some kind of confidence," the Swedish striker stated.
"He has the responsibility, on the pitch and off the pitch, to lead the way for these two months which is very important. He has a quality, a big quality; he has a touch that I haven't seen many players have. And he is very elegant when he plays."
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